Meet Nirup Mohanty: Jharkhand’s Trailblazing Civilian Pilot and India’s First Licensed Fighter Jet Flyer!

Jamshedpur: Nirup Mohanty, a 75-year-old from Jamshedpur, became the first civilian in India to earn a fighter jet flying license. He achieved this remarkable feat 19 years ago in England.

About Nirup Mohanty

Nirup lives in the Bistupur Circuit House area. He worked as a senior officer at Tata Steel until his retirement. He even tried his hand at politics, running for a Lok Sabha seat with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) party, but soon realized it wasn’t for him. Beyond work, he’s a passionate music lover and enjoys playing the guitar.

His Journey to Becoming a Pilot

Nirup has always had a fascination with flying. Growing up as the youngest child, he faced many restrictions but was drawn to adventure from an early age. His father held a significant position at Tata Steel and would often meet JRD Tata at Sonari Airport. These visits sparked Nirup’s dreams of flying as he watched the planes take off.

One day, JRD Tata noticed the young boy and took a photograph with him. This encounter fueled Nirup’s ambition to become a pilot. He completed his education locally, joined a flying club, and trained to operate single and double-engine aircraft.

Achieving His Dream

Nirup holds licenses for 11 different types of aircraft. He began piloting Tata Steel’s planes but wanted more. He learned through various sources about civilian training for jet aircraft in countries like the US and the UK.

Determined to follow his dream, he traveled to England for training. There, he flew the Provost, a fighter jet, and became the first Indian civilian to earn this license in 2006.

Support from His Wife

Nirup credits much of his success to the unwavering support of his wife, Rupa Mohanty. “Her encouragement helped me chase my dreams,” he shared. Rupa proudly stated, “I stood by him at every step. His passion was the key to reaching this milestone.”

Today, Nirup cherishes a letter from the Air Force acknowledging him as the first civilian in India to hold a fighter jet license. His room is adorned with miniature models of airplanes, serving as a reminder of his incredible journey.